Near-field exposure mask and pattern forming method

ABSTRACT

A near-field exposure mask according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a concave-convex structure having convexities and concavities and formed on one surface of the substrate; a near-field light generating film arranged at least on a tip portion of each of the convexities, the near-field light generating film being a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials; and a resin filled in each of the concavities.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-081893 filed on Mar. 30, 2012 in Japan, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a near-field exposure mask and a pattern forming method.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there have been increasing demands for devices with higher densities and higher integration degrees in the fields of various electronic devices that require fine processing, such as semiconductor devices. To satisfy those demands, formation of finer patterns of wiring etc. is essential. In procedures for manufacturing such semiconductor devices, the photolithography technology plays an important role in the formation of fine patterns.

Further, there has been a demand for higher-density microfabrication of semiconductor packages, interposers, printed circuit boards, and the like, as semiconductors have been made to have smaller sizes, higher densities, and higher speeds. Particularly, in recent years, at the time of formation of a storage media fine structure pattern or formation of a biochip nanostructure, high-density microfabrication is more and more strongly required. As a mass-production means to satisfy such a technical demand, the nanoimprint technology has been studied in recent years.

The nanoimprint technology has been developed by applying a pressing method using a metal mold to the nanoscale technology, and involves a nanoscale mold processing technique for performing molding by pressing a mold with minute concavities and convexities against an object to be processed. By the nanoimprint technology, patterns with a width of several tens of nanometers can be formed. Compared with an equivalent processing technology using an electron beam, the nanoimprint technology has the advantage that a large number of patterns can be molded at very low costs.

In the nanoimprint technology, the use of near-field light has been suggested. Generally, in the nanoimprint technology, a mold with concavities and convexities is pressed against a substrate, on which a light-curable resin is applied, and exposed to ultraviolet to cure the light-curable resin. Since the mold that is pressed against the light-curable resin is exposed to ultraviolet, there is a problem in that the mold releasability is low when the mold is removed from the resin after it is exposed to ultraviolet.

Furthermore, it is required to improve the adhesion between the template and the substrate when transferring the ultrafine pattern. Thus, it cannot be said that a sufficient study has been performed in the optimization of pattern forming method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1( a) through 1(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2( a) through 2(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 3( a) through 3(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 4( a) through 4(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 5( a) through 5(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a third embodiment.

FIGS. 6( a) through 6(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the third embodiment.

FIGS. 7( a) through 7(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 8( a) through 8(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 9( a) through 9(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a six embodiment.

FIGS. 10( a) through 10(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to a seventh embodiment.

FIGS. 11( a) through 11(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a near-field optical lithography method according to a ninth embodiment.

FIGS. 13( a) and 13(b) are cross-sectional views for explaining a method of forming a near-field light generating film of a near-field exposure mask according to the fifth to the eighth embodiments.

FIGS. 14( a) and 14(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating a near-field exposure apparatus according to a tenth embodiment.

FIGS. 15( a) through 15(d) are cross-sectional views for explaining a pattern forming method according to an eleventh embodiment.

FIGS. 16( a) through 16(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a resist pattern forming method and a device manufacturing method according to a twelfth embodiment.

FIGS. 17( a) through 17(e) are cross-sectional views for explaining a pattern forming method according to a thirteenth embodiment.

FIGS. 18( a) through 18(c) are cross-sectional views for explaining the pattern forming method according to the thirteenth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A near-field exposure mask according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a concave-convex structure having convexities and concavities and formed on one surface of the substrate; a near-field light generating film arranged at least on a tip portion of each of the convexities, the near-field light generating film being a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials; and a resin filled in each of the concavities.

The following is a description of embodiments, with references to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1( a) through 2(d), a near-field exposure mask (hereinafter also referred to as “near-field generating member”) according to a first embodiment is described. FIGS. 1( a) through 2(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating the procedures for manufacturing the near-field exposure mask according to the first embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or an Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography technique (FIG. 1( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm.

After that, a near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on the resist pattern 4 a, to fill the spaces in the resist pattern 4 a (FIG. 1( d)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

By using Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP), the near-field light generating film 6 is polished, and the upper surface of the resist pattern 4 a is exposed (FIG. 2( a)). As a result, a near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, which is obtained by filling the near-field light generating film in concavities of the resist pattern 4 a on the silicon substrate 2, is formed (FIG. 2( a)). Thereafter, the resist pattern 4 a is removed by using resist remover. In this manner, the near-field light generating film 6 a having concavities and convexities is left on the silicon substrate 2. The near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₂ is 10 nm, and the space width W₁ is 10 nm. Accordingly, the height (the thickness) of the lines in the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. The height (the thickness) of the lines in the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is 100 nm or smaller so that near-field light reaches the resist to be exposed, but is preferably 50 nm or smaller. Alternatively, the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a may be a pattern in which the line width W₂ is 5 nm or greater, and the space width W₁ is 5 nm or greater. It should be noted that the preferred sizes in the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a vary with devices to be formed by using the near-field exposure mask.

Then, a thermosetting resin 7, for example silicon resin, is deposited on the silicon substrate, on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is formed, by a potting method, for example, and cured by a heating process at a temperature of 150° C. (FIG. 2( c)). The method of forming the thermosetting resin 7 is not limited to the potting method, but can be any other method. Thereafter, the thermosetting resin 7 is polished by using CMP to expose the upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, thereby forming a near-field exposure mask 1 (FIG. 2( d)).

The near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed includes a near-field light generating film pattern 6 a with concavities and convexities formed on the silicon substrate 2, and a resin 7 a filled in the concavities of the near-field light generating film pattern. Accordingly, if the near-field exposure mask 1 of this embodiment is pressed against a light-curable resin which is formed on a substrate and on which a pattern has been transferred, and exposed to a light to perform a nanoimprint process by means of a near-field light, it is possible to prevent the light-curable resin from being filled into the concavities of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a. Incidentally, a material with a high mold releasability is selected for the light-curable resin to be formed on the substrate, on which a pattern is transferred, and the resin 7 a to be filled into the concavities of the near-field light generating film pattern. As a result, using the near-field exposure mask 1, it is possible to prevent the degradation of the resolution of the pattern to be transferred even if the nanoimprint process is repeatedly performed.

A silicon resin, an epoxy resin, and so on can be used as the thermosetting resin. Furthermore, instead of a thermosetting resin, a light-curable resin can be used.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

In this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed with the silicon substrate 2, the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, and the resin 7 a. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Second Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 3( a) though 4(d), a near-field exposure mask according to a second embodiment is described. FIGS. 3( a) though 4(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the second embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or an EUV lithography technique (FIG. 3( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 3 (d)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface is obtained (FIG. 3( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₂ and the space width is W₂.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 4( a)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on at least a top surface (tip portion) and sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 4( b)). Although it is not shown in the drawings, the near-field light generating film 6 can also be deposited on the bottoms of the concavities. The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials. Furthermore, the thickness of the near-field light generating film 6 on the tip portion is from 2 nm to 80 nm, and preferably, from 5 nm to 40 nm.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the concavities.

Then, a thermosetting resin 7, for example silicon resin, is deposited on an upper surface of the substrate 2, on which the near-field light generating film 6 is formed, by a potting method, for example, and cured by a heating process at a temperature of 150° C. (FIG. 4( c)). The method of depositing the thermosetting resin is not limited to the potting method, but can be any other method. Thereafter, the thermosetting resin 7 is polished by CMP to expose the upper surface of the near-field light generating film 6, thereby forming a near-field exposure mask 1 (FIG. 4( d)).

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on at least the top surface and the sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate, and a resin 7 a is filled in the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities. Accordingly, if the near-field exposure mask 1 of this embodiment is pressed against a light-curable resin which is formed on a substrate and on which a pattern has been transferred, and exposed to a light to perform a nanoimprint process by means of a near-field light, it is possible to prevent the light-curable resin from being filled into the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities. Incidentally, a material with a high mold releasability is selected for the light-curable resin to be formed on the substrate, on which a pattern is transferred, and the resin 7 a to be filled into the concavities of the near-field light generating film pattern. As a result, using the near-field exposure mask 1, it is possible to prevent the degradation of the resolution of the pattern to be transferred even if the nanoimprint process is repeatedly performed.

A silicon resin, an epoxy resin, and so on can be used as the thermosetting resin. Furthermore, instead of a thermosetting resin, a light-curable resin can be used.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

In this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed with the silicon substrate 2 a, the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, and the resin 7 a. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Third Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 5( a) though 6(d), a near-field exposure mask according to a third embodiment is described. FIGS. 5( a) though 6(d) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the third embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 5( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of RIE using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 5( c)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface can be obtained (FIG. 5( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₂ and the space width is W₁.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 6( a)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on a top surface and part of sides connecting to the top surface of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 6( b)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the concavities.

Then, a thermosetting resin 7, for example silicon resin, is deposited on an upper surface of the substrate 2, on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 is formed, by a potting method, for example, and cured by a heating process at a temperature of 150° C. (FIG. 6( c)). The method of depositing the thermosetting resin is not limited to the potting method, but can be any other method. Thereafter, the thermosetting resin 7 is polished by CMP to expose the upper surface of the near-field light generating film 6, thereby forming a near-field exposure mask 1 (FIG. 6( d)).

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on at least the top surface and part of the sides connecting to the top surface of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate, and a resin 7 a is filled in the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities. Accordingly, if the near-field exposure mask 1 of this embodiment is pressed against a light-curable resin which is formed on a substrate and on which a pattern has been transferred, and exposed to a light to perform a nanoimprint process by means of a near-field light, it is possible to prevent the light-curable resin from being filled into the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities. Incidentally, a material with a high mold releasability is selected for the light-curable resin to be formed on the substrate, on which a pattern is transferred, and the resin 7 a to be filled into the concavities of the near-field light generating film pattern. As a result, using the near-field exposure mask 1, it is possible to prevent the degradation of the resolution of the pattern to be transferred even if the nanoimprint process is repeatedly performed.

A silicon resin, an epoxy resin, and so on can be used as the thermosetting resin. Furthermore, instead of a thermosetting resin, a light-curable resin can be used.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

In this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed with the silicon substrate 2 a, the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, and the resin 7 a. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Fourth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 7( a) though 7(f), a near-field exposure mask according to a fourth embodiment is described. FIGS. 7( a) though 7(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the fourth embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 7( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. Thereafter, a near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on the resist pattern 4 a so as to fill the spaces (concavities) of the resist pattern 4 a (FIG. 7( d)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

Thereafter, the near-field light generating film 6 is polished by using CMP to expose the upper surface of the resist pattern 4 a, thereby leaving a near-field light generating film 6 a in the spaces (concavities) of the resist pattern 4 a (FIG. 7( e)).

Then, the resist pattern 4 a is removed using a resist removing agent to form a near-field exposure mask 1 (FIG. 7( f)). As a result, a line-and-space pattern, which is formed of the near-field light generating film 6 a, and in which the width of the lines (convexities) is W₂ and the width of the spaces (concavities) is W₁, is formed on the silicon substrate 2.

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a pattern of concavities and convexities formed of the near-field light generating film 6 is formed on the silicon substrate.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As will be described later in the descriptions of the ninth embodiment, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

In this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed of the silicon substrate 2 and the near-field light generating film 6 a. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Fifth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 8( a) though 8(f), a near-field exposure mask according to a fifth embodiment is described. FIGS. 8( a) though 8(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the fifth embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 8( a) and 8(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 8( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of RIE using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 8( d)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface can be obtained (FIG. 8( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₂ and the space width is W₁.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 8( e)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on a top surface of each of the convexities and a bottom of each of the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 8( f)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface of each of the convexities and the bottom of each of the concavities.

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on the top surface of each of the convexities and the bottom of each of the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As will be described later in the descriptions of the ninth embodiment, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed of the silicon substrate 2 a and the near-field light generating film 6. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Six Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 9( a) though 9(f), a near-field exposure mask according to a sixth embodiment is described. FIGS. 9( a) though 9(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the sixth embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 9( a) and 9(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 9( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm. Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of RIE using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 9( d)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface can be obtained (FIG. 9( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₂ and the space width is W₁.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 9( e)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on a top surface of each of the convexities, sides connecting the top surface of each convexities, and a bottom of each of the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 9( f)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface of each of the convexities, the sides connecting the top surface of each of the convexities, and the bottom of each of the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities.

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on the top surface of each of the convexities, the sides connecting the top surface of each of the convexities, and the bottom of each of the concavities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As will be described later in the descriptions of the ninth embodiment, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed of the silicon substrate 2 a and the near-field light generating film 6. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Seventh Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 10( a) though 10(f), a near-field exposure mask according to a seventh embodiment is described. FIGS. 10( a) though 10(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the seventh embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 10( a) and 10(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 10( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm.

Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of RIE using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 10( d)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface can be obtained (FIG. 10( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₁ and the space width is W₂.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 10( e)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on a top surface and sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 10( f)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities.

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As will be described later in the descriptions of the ninth embodiment, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed of the silicon substrate 2 a and the near-field light generating film 6. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Eighth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 11( a) though 11(f), a near-field exposure mask according to an eighth embodiment is described. FIGS. 11( a) though 11(f) are cross-sectional views illustrating a procedure of manufacturing a near-field exposure mask according to the eighth embodiment.

First, a silicon substrate 2 of 600 μm in thickness is prepared, and a resist layer 4 of 10 nm to 30 nm in thickness, for example, is applied onto the silicon substrate 2 (FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b)). A resist pattern 4 a is then formed in the resist layer 4 by using an electron beam lithography technique or EUV lithography technique (FIG. 11( c)). This resist pattern 4 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width W₁ is 10 nm, and the space width W₂ is 10 nm, for example. Accordingly, the height of the resist pattern 4 a is 10 nm to 30 nm.

Thereafter, the silicon substrate 2 is etched by means of RIE using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask (FIG. 11( d)). As a result, a silicon substrate 2 a having a pattern of concavities and convexities on its surface can be obtained (FIG. 11( d)). The pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a is a line-and-space pattern in which the line width is W₂ and the space width is W₁.

By removing the resist pattern 4 a, it is possible to obtain a silicon substrate 2 a with an ultrafine pattern (FIG. 11( e)). A near-field light generating film 6 is deposited on a top surface of each of the convexities and sides connecting the top surface of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities of the silicon substrate 2 a (FIG. 11( f)). The near-field light generating film 6 may be a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, AI, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions. Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering, and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of the near-field light generating film 6 to be formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities.

In the near-field exposure mask 1 thus formed, a near-field light generating film 6 is formed on the top surface and the sides of each of the convexities of the pattern of concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the silicon substrate.

As the substrate, a glass substrate can be used in addition to the silicon substrate.

As will be described later in the descriptions of the ninth embodiment, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed of the silicon substrate 2 a and the near-field light generating film 6. Accordingly, the durability can be increased, and the near-field exposure mask 1 can be formed through simple manufacturing procedures.

Ninth Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 12, a near-field optical lithography method according to a ninth embodiment is described.

A near-field exposure method and a near-field optical nanoimprint method are lithography techniques involving near-field light generating members as masks, and are designed for generating near-field light from light having a longer wavelength than the wavelength of propagating light that is normally emitted. It is known that, with the use of near-field light, a photochemical reaction occurs in the resist at a shorter wavelength at which a reaction does not normally occur. Accordingly, no reactions occur at portions irradiated only with propagating light from which near-field light is not generated, but a photochemical reaction occurs only at the portions where near-field light exists, to enable patterning. This is a phenomenon that occurs both in the case of a near-field exposure method and in the case of a near-field optical nanoimprint method.

Near-field light with high intensity is focused locally onto portions with small radii of curvature in the surface. That is, the electrical field intensity of near-field light tends to become higher at portions near the corners. Therefore, in a light exposure using nanoimprint or a mask, patterning is performed depending on the line shapes of the mask. However, if an exposure or imprint curing occurs only at both sides of the mask in the mask width direction, the patterned linewidth becomes smaller by half or more, and the number of lines is doubled. That is, with the use of near-field light, finer patterning can be performed.

The near-field optical lithography method according to the ninth embodiment uses the near-field exposure mask 1 of any of the first through eights embodiments as a near-field exposure mask (near-field light generating member). In FIG. 12, the near-field exposure mask according to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 9( f) is used. As shown in FIG. 12, in a near-field light generating member 100, at least one convex portion 104 is formed on one of the facing surfaces of a transparent substrate 102. The substrate 102 and the convex portion 104 can be made of different materials from each other, or may be made of the same material. Examples of materials of the respective substrates include Si, SiO₂, sapphire, magnesium fluoride, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, and calcium fluoride. The convex portion 104 includes a top end 104 a and sides 104 b. The sides 104 b are side faces that connect the top end 104 a and the substrate 102. The top end 104 a and the sides 104 b are covered with a near-field light generating layer 106 that is made of metal, CNT (carbon nanotube), or graphene. Specifically, the near-field light generating layer 106 includes a first layer 106 a covering the top end 104 a of the convex portion 104, and a second layer 106 b covering the sides 104 b of the convex portion 104. Further, a third layer 106 c made of metal, CNT (carbon nanotube), or graphene can be or may not be formed in the region other than the convex portion 104 on the surface of the substrate 102 on which the convex portion 104 is formed.

The near-field light generating member 100 and a substrate 120, on which a light-curable resin layer 122 is formed, are positioned so that and the light-curable resin layer 122 faces the convex portion 104. In this situation, light is emitted onto the back surface of the near-field light generating member 100, or onto the surface on the opposite side from the surface on which the convex portion 104 is formed. In this manner, near-field light is generated from the near-field light generating layer 106, and the photosensitive resin layer 122 is exposed by the near-field light. If the substrate 120 is a transparent substrate, light can be emitted onto the substrate 120.

In order to deposit the near-field light generating film 6, the direction of the irradiation source is set to be diagonal relative to plane of the substrate, and the deposition is performed from both the right and left directions, as shown in FIGS. 13( a) and 13(b). Typical deposition methods are vapor deposition, sputtering and MBE, but the deposition method to be used here is not limited thereto. By adjusting the irradiation angle relative to the direction of the irradiation source, it is possible to adjust the thickness or thickness ratio of each of the first layer 106 a, the second layer 106 b, and the third layer 106 c.

Metal, CNT (carbon nanotube), and graphene has the function to generate and guide near-field light. Near-field light generated by any of those materials has excellent polarization components in the traveling direction (the direction from the substrate toward the top end of the convex portion in the side faces of the convex portion) or has excellent so-called z-polarized light (light polarized in the traveling direction), compared with the polarization components of general plane wave propagation light that are perpendicular to the traveling direction. Therefore, the near-field light is suitable for the use in the lithography technology, and has double patterning properties. Accordingly, stronger double patterning can be performed, if a resist formed by the lithography technology or the polymerization initiator of a curable resin in a nanoimprint method strongly reacts to z-polarized light.

Further, by reducing the width of the convex portion, fine patterning, if not double patterning, can be performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a pattern forming method by which it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate with a high accuracy.

Tenth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 14( a) and 14(b), a near-field exposure apparatus according to a tenth embodiment is described. A near-field exposure apparatus 20 of the tenth embodiment performs exposures, using the near-field exposure mask 1 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, for example. The near-field exposure apparatus 20 includes: a mount table 22 a on which a to-be-processed substrate 12 having a resist 14 applied thereto is placed, a supporting table 22 b that supports the face of the near-field exposure mask 1 on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is formed; and a mask 24 to allow light from a light source 26 to irradiate the region of the near-field exposure mask 1 on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is formed. As shown in FIGS. 14( a) and 14(b), light is emitted from the light source 26 located on the side where there is the silicon substrate 2 of the near-field exposure mask 1, and the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a and the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-exposed substrate 12 are positioned to face each other. Incidentally, the near-filed exposure apparatus 20 of the tenth embodiment may be exposed to light using the near-field exposure mask 1 of any of the first to the third embodiments, or the near-field exposure mask 1 of any of the fifth to the eighths embodiments.

FIG. 14( a) is a cross-sectional view showing a situation where the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 is not in contact with the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12. FIG. 14( b) is a cross-sectional view showing a situation where the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask is in contact with the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12.

The near-field exposure apparatus 20 of the tenth embodiment includes the light source 26 used for near-field exposures, and a position determining mechanism 28. The position determining mechanism 28 moves either of the near-field exposure mask 1 and the to-be-processed substrate 12, onto which the resist 14 is applied, for determining the position thereof so that the upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 and the surface of the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 are “in contact with” each other. The position determining mechanism 28 id driven by, for example, a vacuum pump or the like.

The feature herein that the upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a and the surface of the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 are “in contact with” each other means that they are in a range where the effect of near-field light reaches (for example, in a range of −10 nm or more to less than 0 nm, or more than 0 nm to 10 nm or less). Thus, the upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a and the surface of the resist 14 are not necessarily in contact with each other actually. That is, if the distance between the upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a and the surface of the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 is in a range of −10 nm or more to less than 0 nm or more than 0 nm to 10 nm or less, the effect of near-field light reaches thereto, resulting in that it is possible to transfer a ultrafine pattern onto the substrate accurately. Herein, a minus distance means that upper surface of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a sinks into the surface of the resist 14.

When the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is not in contact with the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 as shown in FIG. 14( a), the position determining mechanism 28 does not operate, and the light source 26 is in an OFF state. On the other hand, when the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is in contact with the resist 14 applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 as shown in FIG. 14( b), the position determining mechanism 28 operates, and the light source 26 is in an ON state. That is, by activating the position determining mechanism 28, the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is brought into contact with the resist 14. With the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a being in contact with the resist 14, the back surface of the near-field exposure mask 1 is irradiated with the light from the light source 26. It should be noted that the light source 26 needs to be a light source that generates light of 1100 nm or longer in wavelength, because light of 1100 nm or longer in wavelength can pass through Si.

As a result, near-field light is generated from the opening portions of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1, and a pattern latent image is transferred to the resist 14 on the to-be-processed substrate 12. The exposure is preferably performed where the near-field exposure mask 1 and the resist 14 formed on the to-be-processed substrate 12 are in good contact with each other (without any non-contact region) in the area in which the pattern is to be formed. In the tenth embodiment, exposures are performed with light entering from the opposite side from the side on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed. However, as will be described later, exposures may be performed with light entering from the side on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 is formed.

In this manner, it is possible to transfer a ultrafine pattern onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 accurately by exposing the resist 14 to near-field light, developing the resist 14 thus exposed to form a resist pattern, and etching the to-be-processed substrate 12 using this resist pattern as a mask.

As the resist 14 used in the tenth embodiment, either a positive resist or negative resist can be used. Examples of positive resists that can be used include a diazonaphthoquinone-novolac resist and a chemically-amplified positive resist. Examples of negative resists that can be used include a chemically-amplified negative resist, a photo cation polymerizable resist, a photo radical polymerizable resist, a polyhydroxystyrene-bisazide resist, a cyclized rubber-bisazide resist, and a polyvinyl cinnamate resist. With the use of a chemically-amplified positive resist and a chemically-amplified negative resist, a pattern with a low line edge roughness is formed. Accordingly, the use of a chemically-amplified positive resist or chemically-amplified negative resist is particularly preferable in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, a known light source can be used as the near-field light source 26. For example, a laser having a wavelength of 0.35 μm to 20 μm or light-emitting diode can be used. One or more such light sources can be used. Since semiconductor lasers are less expensive have higher power, the use of a semiconductor laser or light-emitting diode is more preferable in this embodiment.

As described above, it is possible to accurately transfer a ultrafine pattern onto a substrate by performing exposure using the near-field exposure apparatus of this embodiment to form the pattern.

Eleventh Embodiment

The ninth embodiment is a pattern forming method in which the light is emitted onto the back surface of the near-field exposure mask 100 (onto the surface of the Si substrate 102 on the opposite side from the surface on which the near-field light generating film pattern is formed). However, a near-field exposure method according to an eleventh embodiment is a pattern forming method in which light is emitted onto a front surface of the near-field exposure mask 1, or onto the surface on which the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a is formed. The eleventh embodiment is described referring to FIGS. 15( a) though 15(d).

As in the case of the ninth embodiment, a resist layer 54 is applied onto a Si substrate 52 by a spin coating method or the like, as shown in FIG. 15( a). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15( a), a near-field exposure mask 61, in which a near-field light generating film pattern 66 a is formed on a Si substrate 62, is prepared. The near-field exposure mask 61 has the same structure as the fourth embodiment.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15( b), the positioning is performed so that the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a is in contact with the surface of the resist layer 54. Then, light of 1550 nm in wavelength is emitted from the side of Si substrate 52, on the opposite side of which the resist is applied. The incident light is p-polarized. Furthermore, the light is incident with a diagonal angle of θi. Although the light propagates through the resist layer 54, the resist is not sensitive to the light since the wavelength used for the light is far longer than the wavelength to which the resist is sensitive. However, the light reaching the interface between the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a of the near-field exposure mask 61 and the resist layer 54 is converted to a near-field light 69 at the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a. A resist portion 54 a in the vicinity of the region where the near-field light 69 is generated is dissociated through a procedure of multiple-stage transition. Thus, even if light is emitted from the front side of the near-field exposure mask 61, it is possible to form an ultrafine pattern.

An LED with a wavelength of 1550 nm is used as an exposing light source to perform an exposure process with an incident power of 30 mW for two hours. The Si substrate 52 including the resist layer 54 thus exposed is developed by being soaked in a developer for 30 seconds, cleaned by pure water, and cleared of water by means of air blow. The exposed resist portion 54 a is dissolved into the developer, thereby forming a pattern corresponding to the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a. In this manner, it is possible to form a pattern of 50 nm in width and 50 nm in depth along the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a.

Thus, it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto the substrate to be processed 52 by exposing the resist 54 to near-field light, developing the resist 54 thus exposed to form a resist pattern, and etching the substrate to be processed 52 using the resist pattern as a mask.

Furthermore, when light is emitted from the front side of the near-field exposure mask 61 as in the eleventh embodiment, the near-field light is excited more easily in the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a of the near-field exposure mask 61 as compared with the case where light is emitted from the back side of the near-field exposure mask as in the ninth embodiment. The reason for this is that when light is emitted from the back side of the near-field exposure mask 61, near-field light is generated in the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a on the side of the Si substrate 62, and then moves to the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a on the side of the resist layer 54, thereby sensitizing the resist layer 54. When the near-field light moves from the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a on the side of the Si substrate 62 to the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a on the side of the resist layer 54, part of the near-field light is absorbed by the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a, resulting in that the intensity of the near-field light decreases. In contrast, when light is emitted from the front side of the near-field exposure mask 61, the light propagates through the resist layer 54, and then near-field light is generated in the edge portion of the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a on the side of the resist layer 54. Accordingly, as compared with the case where light is emitted from the back side of the near-field exposure mask 61, no decrease in the intensity of near-field light is caused by the near-field light generating film pattern 66 a.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to transfer an ultrafine pattern onto a substrate accurately.

Twelfth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 16( a) through 16(d), a resist pattern forming method and a device manufacturing method according to a twelfth embodiment are described.

In the twelfth embodiment, the near-field exposure mask 1 of the fourth embodiment and the near-field exposure apparatus 20 of the tenth embodiment are used, for example.

First, the to-be-processed substrate 12 is prepared, and a light-curable resin is applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12. The light-curable resin may be a single layer. In this embodiment, however, the light-curable resin has a double-layer resist structure formed by stacking a resist layer 15 and a light-curable resin layer 16 in this order on the to-be-processed substrate 12. After that, the to-be-processed substrate 12 and the near-field exposure mask 1 according to the fourth embodiment are placed and arranged on the near-field exposure apparatus (not shown) according to the tenth embodiment in such a manner that the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 faces the resist layer 14 on the to-be-processed substrate 12 (FIG. 16( a)). The near-field light generating film pattern 6 a of the near-field exposure mask 1 and the light-curable resin layer 14 on the to-be-processed substrate 12 are brought into contact with each other, and a near-field exposure is performed. As a result, near-field light leaks along the edge portions of the near-field light generating film pattern 6 a, to cure the light-curable resin layer 14. In this embodiment, the resist layer 14 is a double-layer structure. Therefore, the upper light-curable resin layer 16 is exposed with the near-field light.

The near-field exposure mask 1 is then detached from the to-be-processed substrate 12, and a pattern 16 a is formed on the resist layer 15, as shown in FIG. 16( b). With the pattern 16 a being used as a mask, patterning is performed on the resist layer 15 by using a lithography technique, to form a resist pattern 15 a (FIG. 16( c)). As a result, a pattern 14 a having a stack structure formed with the resist pattern 15 a and the pattern 16 a is formed on the to-be-processed substrate 12 (FIG. 16( d)).

With the pattern 14 a being used as a mask, dry etching or wet etching is performed. After the mask is removed, a semiconductor process including metal vapor deposition, lift-off, and plating is performed on the to-be-processed substrate 12, to process the to-be-processed substrate 12. In this manner, a desired device is formed in the to-be-processed substrate 12.

As the light-curable resin 16 used in this embodiment, a modified acrylate resin, a methacrylate resin, a modified epoxy resin, a polyester acrylate resin, an epoxy acrylate resin, an urethane acrylate resin, and so on can be used.

As the resist layer 15 used in this embodiment, either a positive resist or negative resist can be used, as long as it has photosensitivity to the light source to be used. Examples of positive resists that can be used include a diazonaphthoquinone-novolac resist and a chemically-amplified positive resist. Examples of negative resists that can be used include a chemically-amplified negative resist, a photo cation polymerizable resist, a photo radical polymerizable resist, a polyhydroxystyrene-bisazide resist, a cyclized rubber-bisazide resist, and a polyvinyl cinnamate resist. With the use of a chemically-amplified positive resistor and a chemically-amplified negative resist, a pattern with high linewidth accuracy is formed.

As the to-be-processed substrate 12, various kinds of substrates can be used, such as a semiconductor substrate made of Si, GaAs, InP, or the like, an insulating substrate made of glass, quartz, BN, or the like, or any of those substrates on which one or more films made of a resist, a metal, an oxide, or a nitride are formed.

The propagation depth of near-field light is normally 100 nm or less. To form the pattern 14 a of 100 nm or more in height by near-field optical lithography, a resist layer having a multilayer structure is preferably used. That is, it is preferable to use the resist layer 14 having a double-layer structure in which the light-curable resin layer 16 having endurance to oxygen dry etching is applied onto the lower resist layer 15 that is applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 and can be removed by dry etching. Alternatively, it is possible to use a resist layer having a three-layer structure in which an oxygen plasma etching endurance layer (not shown) is formed on the lower resist layer 15 that is applied onto the to-be-processed substrate 12 and can be removed by dry etching, and the resist layer 16 is further applied onto the oxygen plasma etching endurance layer.

The applications of the resists 14, 15, and 16 can be performed by using known application apparatuses and known methods such as potting, inkjet, a spin coater, a dip coater, and a roller coater, and so on.

The film thicknesses are comprehensively determined by taking into account the processing depth of the to-be-processed substrate 12, and the plasma etching endurances and light intensity profiles of the resists. Normally, the applications are preferably performed so that the film thicknesses fall within the range of 10 nm to 300 nm after prebake.

Further, prior to the applications of the resists 14, 15, and 16, one or more of the following high-boiling-point solvents may be added to reduce the film thicknesses after the prebake: benzyl ethyl ether, di-n-hexyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, acetonylacetone, isophorone, capronic acid, caprylic acid, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, ethyl benzoate, diethyl oxalate, diethyl maleic acid, γ-butyrolactone, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether acetate, and the like.

After the application, the resist layers are prebaked at 80° C. to 200° C., or more preferably, at 80° C. to 150° C. In the prebake, a heating means such as a hot plate or a hot air drying machine can be used.

After the near-field exposure, the mask 1 is detached from the to-be-processed substrate 12, thereby forming a near-field resist pattern. When the resist pattern 16 a formed through a near-field exposure is intended to have a high aspect ratio by a resist layer having a double-layer stack structure, oxygen plasma etching is performed, with the pattern 16 a being used as a mask. Examples of oxygen-containing gases that can be used in the oxygen plasma etching include oxygen, a mixed gas of oxygen and an inert gas such as argon gas, or a mixed gas of oxygen and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, dinitrogen monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or the like.

When the resist pattern 16 a formed through a near-field exposure is intended to have a high aspect ratio by a resist layer having a three-layer stack structure, etching is performed on the oxygen plasma etching endurance layer, with the pattern 16 a being used as a mask. Wet etching or dry etching may be performed as the etching. However, dry etching is more suitable for forming fine patterns, and therefore, is more preferable.

As the wet etching agent, a hydrofluoric acid solution, an ammonium fluoride aqueous solution, a phosphoric acid aqueous solution, an acetic acid aqueous solution, a nitric acid aqueous solution, a cerium ammonium nitrate aqueous solution, or the like can be used, depending on the object to be etched.

Examples of gases for the dry etching include CHF₃, CF₄, C₂F₆, CF₆, CCl₄, BCl₃, Cl₂, HCl, H₂, and Ar, and a combination of some of those gases can be used as needed.

After the etching of the oxygen plasma etching endurance layer, oxygen plasma etching is performed in the same manner as in the case of a resist layer having a double-layer stack structure, and the pattern is transferred to the lower resist layer 15.

By using the device manufacturing method according to this embodiment, the following devices or elements (1) through (6) can be manufactured:

(1) a semiconductor device;

(2) a quantum dot laser element having a structure in which GaAs quantum dots of 50 nm in size are two-dimensionally arranged at 50-nm intervals;

(3) a subwavelength structure (SWS) in which conical SiO₂ members of 50 nm in size are two-dimensionally arranged at 50-nm intervals on a SiO₂ substrate, and a light reflection preventing function is provided;

(4) a photonic crystal optical device or a plasmon optical device having a structure in which 100-nm members made of GaN or a metal are two-dimensionally and periodically arranged at 100-nm intervals;

(5) a biosensor element or a micro total analysis system (μTAS) element that has a structure in which Au fine particles of nm in size are two-dimensionally arranged at 50-nm intervals on a plastic substrate, and uses local plasmon resonance (LPR) or surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS); and

(6) a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) element such as a SPM probe having a sharp structure that is used in scanning probe microscopes (SPM) such as a tunnel microscope, an atomic force microscope, and a near-field optical microscope, and are of 50 nm or less in size.

EXAMPLE

The following is a description of an example of the twelfth embodiment.

A to-be-processed substrate having a light-curable resin applied thereto is placed on the side of a near-field light generating film pattern of a near-field exposure mask. The to-be-processed substrate 12 used here is a silicon substrate. As the light-curable resin, a resin of Toyo Gosei Co., Ltd. is used.

A 1.5-μm infrared laser is used as the light source for the near-field exposure. The illumination intensity is approximately 85 mJ/cm² in the i-ray on the upper surface of the mask.

A line-and-space pattern of 20 nm in half pitch and approximately 100 nm in depth is obtained where the exposure time is two minutes, and a line-and-space pattern of 50 nm in half pitch and approximately 100 nm in depth is obtained when the exposure time was one minute.

Thirteenth Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 17( a) through 18(c), a pattern forming method according to a thirteenth embodiment is described. The pattern forming method according to the thirteenth embodiment is a method using a nanoimprint method in which a pressing position is controlled.

First, as shown in FIGS. 17( a) and 17(b), a Si substrate 80 is prepared, and a light-curable resin film 82 is formed on the Si substrate 80. The light-curable resin film 82 may be formed by a spinner technique, for example. By the spinner technique, the number of rotations of the spinner is controlled by taking into account the viscosity and solid content of the light-curable resin film 82, and the evaporation rate of the solvent. In this manner, a desired film thickness can be obtained. After the formation of the light-curable resin film 82, prebake can be performed to remove the solvent contained in the film.

As shown in FIG. 17( c), a template 90 having a near-field light generating film pattern 94 formed on a Si substrate 92 is prepared. This template 90 can be a near-field exposure mask according to any of the first through eighths embodiments. The light-curable resin film 82 formed on the Si substrate 80 is then brought into contact with the near-field light generating film pattern 94 of the template 90 (FIG. 17( d)).

With the light-curable resin film 82 and the near-field light generating film pattern 94 being in contact with each other, light is emitted onto the back surface side of the silicon substrate 80 or the opposite side from the side on which the light-curable resin film 82 is formed, as shown in FIG. 17( e). The light irradiation is performed for 0.1 to 20 seconds. As a result, near-field light is generated at the edge portions of the near-field light generating film pattern 94 of the template 90, and the generated near-field light reaches the light-curable resin film 82. Since the light emitted in this embodiment is so-called nonresonant light, the light-curable resin film 82 reacts directly to the emitted light, but is not chemically changed at all when the irradiation time and intensity are adjusted. In the step illustrated in FIG. 17( d), the distance between the Si substrate 80 having the light-curable resin film 82 applied thereto and the template 90 can be determined based on the wavelength of the emitted light. In this embodiment, the template 90 is a template having the near-field light generating film pattern 94 formed on the Si substrate 92. However, the template 90 can be a concave-convex mold, and the material of the concave-convex mold can be Si.

The light intensity of the near-field light is higher at the concave and convex edge portions that correspond to the pattern 94 of the template 90. The light-curable resin film 82 reacts to the generated near-field light due to the near-field light generated. As a result, the light-curable resin film 82 is cured at local regions 82 a corresponding to the above-mentioned edge portions, as shown in FIG. 18( a).

As shown in FIG. 18( b), the template 90 is detached from the Si substrate 80. Edge neighborhood portions 82 a formed by curing the light-curable resin film 82 with the near-field light generated in the step illustrated in FIG. 17( e) and the light-curable resin film portions 82 b, in which no near-field light is generated and which are located outside the edge neighborhood portions 82 a, remain on the Si substrate 80.

The light-curable resin film portions 82 b remaining on the Si substrate 80 is used as a mask, and etching is performed on the Si substrate 80. In this manner, a silicon substrate 80 a having a fine pattern can be obtained (FIG. 18( c)).

The near-field light generating film pattern 94 of the template 90 is made of a metal containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, and Cr, and the film thickness of the pattern 94 may be greater than 0 nm and not greater than 40 nm. The light to be emitted can have a wavelength of 0.36 μm to 5.0 μm. Further, light can be emitted onto the template 90. The light-curable resin film 82 may be formed so that it is not cured by light having a wavelength of 1 μm to 5.0 μm.

The concave edge portions of the concave-convex mold serve as an even finer pattern. That is, by the nanoimprint method to which this embodiment is applied, the light-curable resin film can be locally cured by near-field light rapidly enhanced at the concave and convex edge portions, to form a sharp detachment face at the time of detachment. In this manner, a much finer pattern than a pattern formed with concavities and convexities can be formed. At the concave and convex edge portions, sharper electrical field gradients exist, depending on emitted light. However, a diabatic process that reacts only in those regions can be used. Accordingly, fine patterning of 10 nm or smaller can be performed with high precision.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fail within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

1. A near-field exposure mask comprising: a substrate; a concave-convex structure including convexities and concavities formed on one surface of the substrate; a near-field light generating film arranged at least on a tip portion of each of the convexities, the near-field light generating film being a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials; and a resin filled in each of the concavities.
 2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the convexities are formed of the near-field light generating film.
 3. The mask according to claim 2, wherein a height of at least one of the convexities formed of the near-field light generating film is 50 nm or less.
 4. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the convexities are formed of the substrate, and the near-field light generating film covers a top surface of each of the convexities, and at least part of sides connecting to the top surface of each of the convexities.
 5. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a transparent substrate.
 6. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the resin filled in each of the concavities is a silicon resin or epoxy resin.
 7. A pattern forming method for forming a pattern using a near-field exposure mask including: a first substrate; a concave-convex structure having convexities and concavities formed on one surface of the first substrate; and a near-field light generating film arranged at least on a tip portion of each of the convexities, the near-field light generating film being a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials, the method comprising: applying a light-curable resin onto a second substrate; positioning the near-field exposure mask so that the near-field light generating film arranged to the tip portion of each of the convexities is in contact with a surface of the light-curable resin applied onto the second substrate; emitting light from either a side of the first substrate or a side of the second substrate; and detaching the near-field exposure mask from the second substrate.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the near-field exposure mask, a resin is filled in each of the concavities of the concave-convex structure.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the convexities of the near-field exposure mask are formed of the near-field light generating film.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the convexities of the near-field exposure mask are formed of the first substrate, and the near-field light generating film covers a top surface of each of the convexities and at least part of sides connecting to the top surface of each of the convexities.
 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first substrate is a transparent substrate, and light is emitted from a side of the first substrate. 